In Which 3Ls Totally Overestimate Their Practice Readiness

82 percent of 3L law students believe they are effective legal writers. In contrast, only 57 percent of practicing attorneys who work at companies that hire recent law school graduates believe recent law school graduates are effective legal writers.

It continues:

71 percent of 3L law students believe they possess sufficient practice skills. In contrast, only 23 percent of practicing attorneys who work at companies that hire recent law school graduates believe recent law school graduates possess sufficient practice skills.

Sam is the founder and Editor in Chief of Lawyerist.com, the best place for lawyers to learn how to start, manage, and grow a law practice, and home to the community of innovative lawyers building the future of law.

who would have ever thought that a population of (generally privileged) 25 year old American school kids would somehow think they know more than they actually do — and what a fantastic world we live in that this meaningful research can be done and brought to the forefront for the world to see

This is EXACTLY why I think every law student should have “real life” experience while in law school. Too often, the summer months are spent at law firms that fluff their spirit and make them feel high and mighty. Law schools are just now catching on that practice skills are just as important as the traditional things one learns in law school. The best training that I ever received was getting my butt whooped in Court (yes, I am Southern!). It taught me that there are multiple factors in succeeding as a lawyer. Not only must one write well, but one must communicate that story orally to sway a judge or jury. Once a judge or jury looks at the young lawyer like he or she has three heads, that young lawyer will know……..this is going to be a marathon and not a sprint.